Teabag Tidbits

Just a little teabag quote for the day.

Started a jar of comfrey infused oil.  I haven't decided yet, but I'll either use this as an oil or make a salve, to topically treat my varicose veins.

Made a breakfast scramble with collards, jalapeno and bacon.  Of course eggs, potatoes and green bell peppers as well.  I felt bad Hubby had no breakfast nor lunch to pack on Monday.  We grilled out Sunday night, and had been busy outdoor Sunday morning.

Baked Bourbon Blueberry Banana bread.  Snacks for the next day or two.

You know when the weather really is wacky, when you have this much asparagus, and no snap peas to go with it (when I normally do).  Peas aren't even planted sadly.  I roast the asparagus with rosemary and olive oil.

Today is our youngest daughter's last day of school. 

Considering our weather the last two years, I've asked Hubby to put building a green house to the top of the to-do list.  I can't survive with out it now.  It's imperative in order for us to eat healthy and stock up for the winter and spring.  The weather is definitely a struggle and I have a bad feeling it will happen more often than not.

Skullcap infused oil ~ Spider bite scar update #2 ~ Dish Day and otherTidbits

I don't have photos to share, as the scar tissue remains the same, although sensitive to the touch.

I infused skullcap oil (instructions on how to infuse an oil can be found on Mountain Rose Herbs blog online) to maintain care of the scar tissue and heal it the best I can.  Although there are other herbs/weeds to infuse, I chose skullcap.  In my research it aids in healing acne scars, so I went with that to care for my spider bite scar.

I know it will be sensitive to sunlight this summer, not that my leg sees much sun (I wear pants in the garden).

Just a quick update and another way to treat scars.  If you have another way, please share.

After 2 days of dark days, we finally had beautiful sunshine.

Thursday was what I call a full blown "dish day."  I literally washed a mountain of dirty dishes, dried them and put them away, and almost immediately found myself getting more than half of them back out to cook/bake.  Oh look!  There are rotten bananas.  Must make banana bread.  Reaching in the fridge for chocolate chips....oh look!  Over abundance in milk.  I should make Mom's overnight casserole to use some up.  Must not waste anything.  Oh look, eggs can be boiled.  Sigh....I do it almost every day.  Lord help me.

I finally scooted outside to hunt down some chicken wire for another project, but was back in to do the dishes again.

I picked this recipe box for our oldest daughter.  She loves sunflowers.  There are divider cards inside and extra recipe cards.  I scanned family favorite recipes, glued them to index cards, and slipped them into a plastic recipe card protector.  I hope she likes it.

Something I learned (but haven't tried) - you can eat used tea leaves.  I'm talking about nettle, comfrey etc.  Edible weeds.  I just learned of this, and of course they won't be as strong as they've already been used for tea, but edible (tossed in a frittata, eggs, pasta etc.  I have a compost bin, so I have never thought of this until I read about it.  Do any of you use your medicinal tea leaves for another meal?

Planting Resumes ....shortly

The first thing I checked on a few days ago - stinging nettles.  It was wet, but I needed a low key day.  In reality, we pretty much did nothing, as rest was needed anyway.

My lemon balm curse has turned into a blessing.  I found more uses for it.  Lemon balm was cut and washed.  I filled the dehydrator as full as I could.  I have a plan.  

The Good Lord stopped the rain for a morning, so I was dreading tickled pink to go to work.  I got 36 sweet potatoes planted, 1 1/4 rows of wax beans planted.....but rain was expected so there's no telling when the remaining tilling can be done to plant the rest.  Patience is a virtue has been repeated often. 

I had to replant some cucumbers.  Oh my land, it is a muddy mess out there, and it may take many days to dry up. Rain arrived yesterday afternoon (long drawn out sigh...)

Tuesday Tidbits

It's been a trial week and it's only Tuesday.  It will be a longer week too.  I pray that God gives our nephew's family protection, love, support, and all the mental healing they need

It's not only the night shift change anxiety/strain/tension right now, but another death in our family.  We got the call last night (Monday) just about 15 minutes prior to Hubby leaving for work.  Their family, and ours, could use prayers, uplifting thoughts, and good mojo.  We lost our great nephew's father.  We just lost our great nephew in late January, and now his father (my husband's nephew).  The great nephew was only 21 years old.  I am not certain, but I think our nephew was in his early 40's.  Last year we buried my husband's sister, mother to this nephew.


Flustered and in no shape to crochet, I had a baby yarn disaster last night too.  I messed up, pulled out two rows, but in the process of putting the rows back in, created the worst mess of a knot.  I went in search of help from a daughter, who tried her best to unravel it.  To no vail, we cut the yarn.  I put it away for now, but will need to take out a half of a row, and re-attach the yarn.  Sigh.  I'm just in no condition to crochet for a day or two.

To uplift this post and share some self-sufficiency data going on here at the Rooster's Crow Farm. . .

Burdock Herbal Oil ~ Eating My Weeds

I've been borrowing many books on herbs from the library and getting new bits of info.

Somewhere in the mix of research, I came upon the uses of burdock oil.  

I have burdock all over, so I decided to make the oil.  One case they said to put the oil and root in a dark room for so many weeks.  Another said to water bath it gently.   So, I went to my herbal books from the homesteading bookshelf and took another look on making oils.  In the past I have made them in a sunny window (calendula, chive).

I decided on making my hair oil using both burdock root,

Chive Oil

Summer time pizzas, made fresh from the oven sounds great right?  Or Italian anything sounds good.  I decided that I needed some homemade chive oil for those types of meals.

With a few free minutes (I'm so funny) I cut some of those fresh chives we are getting from the garden.